ANALYSIS OF THE BARRIERS THAT INFLUENCE THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE FAMILY FARMER INTO A RURAL ENTREPRENEUR IN THE MOZAMBICAN CONTEXT

Abstract

The strengthening of family farming is important in reducing the rural exodus. Therefore, there is a need to develop an entrepreneurial vision on the part of rural inhabitants. Thus, the research aims to analyze the barriers that influence the transformation of the farmer from the family sector into a rural entrepreneur in the Administrative Post of Ocua, Chiúre district in Mozambique. For data collection, it consisted of semi-structured interviews in the communities of Ocua Sede, Mahipa and Samora Machel distributed in a few 35, 33 and 37 interviewees respectively. The database was organized in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. They were then imported into the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 25 software, to perform statistical analyses and obtain the results. The results showed that the main factors for the non-transformation of family farmers into rural entrepreneurs in the "Individual" category were lack of persistence (88.6%), lack of search for information (83.8%), lack of search for initiatives and opportunities (80%), risk aversion (69.5%) and weak power of persuasion (66.7%). For the "Environment" category, they were lack of business training (92.4%), financial unavailability (89.5%), lack of government support (73.3%) and poor road quality (61.9%). In the "Process" category, they were the lack of security when they perceive opportunities (86.7%) and lack of formal education (81.9%). Although the interviewees affirm that they have persistence, patience and the search for information as the main strategies to overcome barriers faced, they do not do so as evidenced in the Individual category.